The capitol of Washington state has decided to snuff out smoking in its parks and recreation areas, as on Tuesday the Olympia City Council approved a proposed ban that will go into effect January 1, 2018.

According to a report from the Olympian, it will be more of an educational campaign than a means to fine smokers, with the hope that the ban will also reduce both litter and the risk of fires. Signage will be the first reminder, with park rangers instructed to politely ask people to stop smoking should they see such activity.

The ban also applies to vaping and the use of e-cigarettes, but does not apply to chewing tobacco. State law already prohibits the smoking of marijuana in public places.

Olympia is located approximately 60 miles southwest of Seattle and has a population of just over 48,000 residents.

 

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.